Current regulator



4 Oct. 15,1946. REE S 2,409,312

CURRENT REGULATOR I Filed Feb. 5, 1945' 2 Sheets-Sheet l L L l v 1945- J. B. REEVES I I 2,409,312

CURRENT REGULATOR Filed Feb 5, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 a4 LL 725a Patented Oct. 15, 1946 CURRENT REGULATOR James B. Reeves, Whitefish Bay, Wls., assignor to Cutler-Hammer, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a cornotation of Delaware Application February 5, 1945, Serial No. 576,335

The invention relates to the current control of dynamo-electric machines or other translating circuits, and while not limited thereto, it is particularly applicable to the control of motors which are supplied with armature current from a variable voltage generator where it is desired to limit the current flowing between the-generator and motor upon changes of the motor load or changes of the generator voltage.

An object of the invention is to provide improved mean for automatically controlling the. armature current of a motor by controlling the field excitation of a generator supplying said armature current.

Another object is to provide in a system of the aforementioned type for limiting through control of the generator excitation the maximum torque tof the motor upon changes of load thereon.

Another object is to provide in a system of the aforementioned type for affording different limits of motor currents for different operating conditions of the motor. 1

- Another object is to provide in a system of the aforementioned type for varying the excitation of the generator so as to maintain a constant motor current upon tendencies of such current to increase.

Another object is to provide for controlling, in a system of the aforementioned type, the accelerating current in response to the motor speed. Otherobjects and advantages will hereinafter appear. k

'I'he accompanying drawings are illustrative of an embodiment of the invention.

. Figure '1 illustrates a system in which a sepa rately excited reversible direct current motor is supplied with energy from a variable voltage generator, while Fig. 2 illustrates a non-reversible system includingcertain modifications of the control of the generator field.

Referring to Fig. l, the same illustrates a variable voltage generator l0, having an armature l, and a separately excited regulating field winding lll he generator supplies current to the armature H of a motor II which i also provided with a field winding li The latter may be energized from any suitable direct current source, the energizing current being adjusted to a suitable value. The armatures Ill and II are connected into a closed loop which includes current shunts I 2 and I3 connected in serieswith each other and with the generator and the motor armature.

The control system comprises two high vacuum 6 Claims. (01. 172-239) r 2 electron tubes l4 and I5. The electron tube 14. is a duplex tube, having cathodes M and M, anodes M and W, respectively, and control electrode M and [4, respectively.

The electron tube [5 is provided with a cathode.

I5 an anode I5 and a control electrode l5. The anodes I l and W are jointly connected to a bus bar L which constitutes one terminal of a source of direct current of constant potential; the other terminal of said source being a bus bar' L The cathode I5 is connected to the bus bar L through a voltage divider l6, which is provided with an adjustable contact. The anodeltl? is connected to the bus bar L through a resistor l1, while the cathode I5 is connected to the bus bar L through a resistor l8, which is preferably paralleled by a voltage regulating tube l9. The grid [5 is connected to the two cathodes M and I4 and is also connected through a resistor 2!],

to the bus bar L The grid M is connected to.

the terminal of the current shunt l2, which isv nearest to the generator, while the grid It is connected .to the terminal of the current shunt l3, which is nearest to the motor H. The oathodes I l and N are also connected to the negative terminal ofv a biasing battery 2l,.,which is paralleled by a voltage divider 22, which is providedwith adjustable contacts 22 22 22f and 22d. 7

The field winding ll) of the generator is sup-' plied with current from the lines L3, L of an.

alternating current source of supply, through a transformer 23, which has a primary winding. 23";

trol electrodes 24? and 25, respectively. 'The' tubes 24 and 25 are reversibly connectable to the field winding lo by a pair of electromagnetic reversing switches 26 and 21, each provided with two normally open main contacts 26 and 26, and 21 and 21 respectively, normally open auxiliary, contacts 26 213, '26 and 21 21. and 21 respectively, normally closed auxiliary contact 26 and 21 respectively; and energizing windings 26*.and 21, respectively. One terminal each of the contacts 26 and 21 is jointly connected to one'ter-.

minal of the Winding ID"; the other terminalof which is connected to one terminal of. the contacts.

a condenser 30 and to the other intermediate terminal of the said winding 23 through a variable resistor 3|. The condenser 30, the resistor 3| and the winding 29 form a phase shifting network by means of which the phase. angle of the voltage impressed upon the control electrodes of tube 24 and 25, in relation to the phase angle of the voltage of the lines L and L may bevaried. The control electrodes 24 and 25, respectively, are each connected to one of the end terminals of the secondary winding 29 of the transformer 29.

The windings 25 and 21 may be selectively energized from the line L and L through. a manually operated pilot switch 32, which has a center bias lever 32 operable in one direction to make contact with stationary contacts 32 and 32 and operable in the opposite direction to make contact with stationary contacts 32 and 32.

The pilot switch 32 is p r bly so arran that, upon movement of the lever 32 to the respective operating position it closes circuit with contacts 32, 32 prior to closure of circuit with contacts 32 or 32.

The energizing winding 33 of an electromagnetic voltage responsive relay 33 is connected across the terminals of the motor armature l|. The relay 33 is also provided with two normally open contacts 33 and 33. One terminal of each of said contacts is connected to the line L The second terminal of the contact 33 is connected to the contact 32 while the second terminal of the contact 33 is connected to the con tact 32. One terminal each of the windings 26 and 21' is connectable to the line L The second terminal of the winding 26 is connectable through the normally closed contacts 21 to the terminal 32, while the second terminal of the winding 21 is connectable through the normally closed contact 26 to the terminal 32*.

An electromagnetic relay 34 has an energizing winding 34, one terminal of which is connected to the line L, while the other terminal is'connected to one terminal each of the normally open contacts 28 and 21. The other terminal of contact 26 is connected to contact 32 and the second terminal of contact 21 is connected tccontact 32. The relay 34 has normally open contacts 34 34 and 34 and normally closed contacts 34, 34 and 34 The contacts 34 are interposed in a circuit between the cathodes 24 and 25', and the anode IS. The contacts 34 are interposed in a circuit between the center tap of the winding 29 and the anode IS. The contacts 34 are interposed between the cathodes 24' and 25, and the movable contact of the voltage divider IS; the contacts 34 are interposed between the center tap of the Winding 29 and the movable contact of the voltage divider l6; one terminal of contacts 34 and 34 is connected to the common terminal of the shunts l2 and I3; the second terminal of contact 34 is'connected to one terminal of each of the contacts 26 and 21 while the second terminal of contact 34 is connected to one terminal of each of the contact 26 and 21. The second terminal of contacts 26 4 21 26 and 2'! is connected to the sliding contacts 22, 22 22 and 22 respectively.

To start the equipment, the lines L L and the lines L and L as well as the motor field l U, are energized and the generator armature is rotated by its prime mover. The energization of the field winding I l establishes the desired magnetic field in the motor ll, while energization of the lines L L causes a potential to be impressed by the transformers 23 and 29 upon the anodes of the tubes 24 and 25. A potential is also impressed upon the control electrodes 24 and 25. By adjustment of the resistor 3!, the phase relation of the potential impressed upon the anodes 24 and25 with respect to the phase angle of the voltage impressed upon the control electrodes 24" and 25, and thus. the maximum current passed by tubes 24 and 25 to the winding la and thus the maximum voltage of the generator 10 may be adjusted.

If it is now desired to operate the motor in a forward direction, the control lever 32 of the control switch 32 is moved to make contact with the stationary contacts 32 and 32, whereupon a circuit is established from line L over lever 32", contact 32 contacts 21, through the energizing winding 26 to line L and the forward switch 26 is actuated.

Energization of the forward switch 25 completes a circuit from line L over contact lever 32, contact 32, contacts 26 coil 34 to line L and the relay 34 is actuated to close its contacts 34 34 and 34 thereby connecting the anode 15 to the cathodes 24 and 25, the movable contact of the voltage divider IE to the center tap of the transformer Winding 29". Closure of con tacts 26 and 25 establishes a circuit from one end terminal of winding 23 through tube 24, through contacts 26 winding Ni contacts 26, to the center tap of winding 23", and through said Winding back to tube 24, and alternately from the other end terminal of winding 23 through tube 25, contacts 26, winding lo contacts 26, to the center tap of the winding 23 The generator field Ill is thus supplied with rectified direct current, and a voltage is induced in the generator armature Ili to cause a current flow from said armature through the shunts l2 and IS, the motor armature I I back to the generator armature 10*. As the current supplied to the motor armature l I" accelerates the latter, the terminal voltage of the armature H increases until the voltage impressed upon the energizing coil 33 is sufiicient to cause closure of the contacts 33 and 33, Closure of these contacts parallels the circuit between the contact arm 3-2 and the contact 32 so that the lever 32 may be returned to the neutral position to break circuit with the contact 32, but the switch 26 remains energized until the energization of the coil 33 is insufficient to maintain the contacts 33 and 33 closed. The circuit which responds to the voltage drop in the shunts l2 and I3 is so adjusted that when no current flows between the generator and the motor both halves of the tube i4 conduct only a small current. As the current supplied by the generator increases, it produces potential differences in the shunts l2 and 13, which render the grid 14 less positive and the grid l4 more positive with respect to their respective cathodes, so that the potential of the grid 14 is ultimately sufiicient to stop current conduction in the left half of the tube l4, whereas the current flowing through the right half of the tube I4 is increased. The relation between the variation of the current in the tw'o halves of the tube l4 and the potential of the grids W and I4 may be adjusted in a well known manner by adjustment of the supplemental grid bias afforded by the voltage divider 22.

- This supplemental grid bias is equal to the voltage between the adjustable contact of the voltage divider 22, which is connected to the common terminal of the shunts l2 and i3, and the negative terminal of the battery 2 I. During operation of the motor in the forward direction, that is, While the switch 26 and the relay 34 are energized, a circuit is established from the common terminal of the shunts l2 and I3, through contacts 34 25 and 22, through part of the voltage divider 22, to the cathodes I4 and N Thus the adjustment-of the contact 22 determines the supplemental grid biasing voltage and therefore the relation between the current flowing in the generator-motor loop and the conduction of the two halves of the tube 14, so that upon moving the contact 22 toward the positive terminal of the voltage divider 22, the current conducted by the tube I 4 for a given current in the motor-generator loop will be increased.

As the conduction of the right half of the tube l4 increases, the potential of the grid |5 becomes more positive, thereby increasing the conduction of the tube 15 which increases the current in the resistor H, which in turn reduces the positive potential of the anode l5". The potential derived from the voltage divider I6 is so adjusted that a desired potential difierence exists between the anode 15 and the movable contact of the voltage divider It. This potential difference is impressed upon the grids 24 and 25, as will be apparent from the diagram, and is superimposed upon the potential impressed by the winding 29', the polarity of the superimposed potential being such as to delay the moment of ignition of the tubes 24 and 25, during the respective conducting half a If it is now desired to stop the motor, the operator returns the lever 32 to the neutral position. As the voltage impressed on the coil 33 is the maximum terminal voltage of the motor, the relay 33 remains energized, thus maintaining the switch 26 energized, which in turn maintains the connection between the rectifier tubes 24 and 25 and the generator field winding 10 However, opening the connection between the contact lever 32, and the contact 32, opens the circuit of the energizing coil 34*, so that the relay 34 opens the contacts 34 and 34, thereby reversing the connections between the anode l5 and the movable contact of the voltage divider It on one hand, and the cathodes 24 and 25 and the center tap of the winding 29 respectively. As now the action of the generator and motor is reversed, current flows in the motor-generator loop in the reverse direction, so that now the left half of the tube l4 becomes conducting and the right half becomes non-conducting.

During deceleration in the forward rotation of the motor, the contacts 34 are open and contacts 3,4? are closed. Therefore, the circuit between the contact 22 and the common terminal of the shunts l2 and I3 is opened, while a circuit is closed from said common terminal through contacts 34 and 26 to contact 22 Hence, the biasing potential for the tube 14 has been changed so that the system is regulated to afford a decelerating current which is higher or lower than the accelerating current, depending upon the relative position of the contacts 22 and 22.

However, it is applied to the tubes 24 and 25 in the reverse direction from that during acceleration of the motor I I, thereby advancing the moment of ignition of the respective tube during the positive half cycle and tendin to increase the current of the field winding of the generator, to decrease the dynamic brakin effect. Thus, the system maintains the braking current of the motor at a constant value which may be substantially the same as the accelerating current, so that the motor is brought to a standstill with the maximum allowable torque and in'the' shortest possible time. When themotor speed approaches zero, the voltage impressed upon the coil 33 is insuflicient to maintain the relay 33 energized. Thus the contacts 33 and 33 are opened, which opens the maintaining circuit for the forward switch coil 26 and causes disconnection of the generator field Ii) from the tubes '24 and 25, and the equipment returns to the initial condition.

Operation of the motor in the opposite direction is obvious from the foregoing. To start the motor in reverse direction, the switch arm 32 is moved to make circuit with the contacts 32 'and 32 thereby energizing the reverse switch 21. The functioning of the various elements of the system upon reverse operation will be obvious from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings. However, it is to be pointed out that since during acceleration upon reverse operation, the contact 22 is connected to the common terminal of the shunts l2 and I3, the position of said contact determines the acceleratin current of the motor for reverse rotation. Upon reopening of the pilot switch 32 and during subsequent deceleration, the contact 22 is connected to the common terminal of the shunts l2 and I3, so that the position of the latter contact determines the decelerating current. Hence, during forward operation, the positions of the contacts 22and 22 determine the current in the mot0r-generator loop during acceleration and deceleration, respectively, while for reverse operation the positions of the contacts 22 and 22* determine the current in the motor-generator loop during acceleration and deceleration, respectively. Obviously, the controller may be arranged to afford equal accelcrating currents for both directions of rotation and equal decelerating current for both directions or equal accelerating and decelerating currents of one value for one direction and of another value for the other direction, or the currents may be adjusted for the same value under all conditions of operation. For certain of said conditions, some of the commutating circuits for the biasing resistor 22-may be combined or omitted, as will be apparent.

Referring now to Fig. 2, the same illustrates a system in which the motor is required to operate only in one direction. However, in the system of Fig. 2, the accelerating current of the motor is controlled in accordance with the speed of the latter so that the rate of acceleration and the motor current are'relatively low upon startingand:

increase progressively as the motor attains speed.

The'connections and the elements of the system are substantially the same as illustrated and described in connection with Fig. 1, except for the following: The electromagnetic reversing switch 21 has been omitted; the reverse speed contacts 32 and 32 of pilot switch 32 have been omitted; contacts 2B 25, 26 of switch 25, contacts 33 of switch 33 and sliding contacts 22, 22 of voltage divider 22 have been omitted.

A voltage divider 50 has been added, one of its terminals being connected to the positive terminal of the motor, while its other terminal is connected to the common terminal of the shunts I2 and I3. The voltage divider 50 is provided with a movable contact 59 which is connected to one terminal of each of the contacts 3 1 and 3%, while the connection of said contacts to the common terminal of the shunts I2 and I3 has been omitted. Furthermore, the movable contact 22 is directly connected to the second terminal of contact 34 while the movable contact 22 is directly connected to the second terminal of the contact 34.

The operation of the system is substantially the same as that illustrated in Fig. 1, except that the supplemental voltage existing between the movable contact Sll and the negative terminal of the voltage divider 50 is added to the bias supplied by the voltage divider 22 to the cathodes M and I6. Upon starting, the voltage of the generator armature II is substantially zero. Therefore, the

bias of the grids I4 and I4 with respect to the cathodes I4 and N respectively, is a minimum. This as has been aforedescribed results in a high impedance of the tubes 24 and 25, so that the exciting current of the generator I0 is relatively low and the motor I I accelerates with a relatively low torque. As the motor starts to rotate, and its speed increases, the supplemental voltage supplied by the voltage divider 50 progressively increases, thereby reducing the positive bias of the grids M and I with respect to the cathodes I I and I4 respectively, which in turn increases the current passed by the tubes 24 and 25, so as to cause an additional increase of the enerator voltage to increase the torque and the acceleration afforded by the motor II. Hence, at low speeds, the accelerating current and torque of the motor I I are relatively low, while at higher speeds they are relatively high, the variation being adlustable by adjustment of the sliding contact 5%.

This system is particularly suitable for large centrifugal extractors which must be started at a very low rate in order to prevent undue unbalance of the rotating parts of the extractor. As the extractor accelerates, the parts balance automatically and it is then permissible to increase the rate of acceleration and the accelerating current.

The system shown in Fig. 2 may, of course, also be applied to reversible controllers, and it is furthermore possible to provide for a high rate of acceleration at low speed and a low rate of acceleration at high speed, the changes required for such operation being obvious.

I claim:

1. In combination, a generator, having an armature and a field winding, a pair of electron tubes, each having a control electrode, manual means for establishing connection of said tubes to said field winding for supplying energizing current to the latter, adjustable means including electronic means for impressing a voltage on said control electrodes for regulating the current supplied by said tubes, a motor having an armature connected in circuit with said generator armature, means responsive to the speed of said motor armature for controlling maintenance of said connection of said electron tubes to said field winding independent of said manual means, and means to render said electronic means responsive to the current circulating between said armatures to control and limit such current and including means for predetermining the limit.

2. In combination, a generator, having an armature and a field winding, a pair of electron tubes, each having a control electrode, manual means for establishing connection of said tubes to said field winding for supplying energizing current to the latter, adjustable means including electronic means for impressing a voltage on said control electrodes for regulating the current sup plied by said tubes, a motor having an armature connected in circuit with said generator armature, means responsive to the speed of said motor armature for controlling maintenance of said connection of said electron tubes to said field winding independent of said manual means, and means to render said electronic means responsive to the magnitude and direction of current circulating between said armatures to control and limit such current and including means for predetermining different limits for different directions of said circulating current.

3. In combination, a generator, having an armature and a field winding, a pair of electron tubes, each having a control electrode, reversing means including a pilot switch for establishing connection of said tubes to said field winding for supplying energizing current to the latter in opposite directions selectively, adjustable means for impressing a voltage on said control electrodes for regulating the current supplied by said tubes, a motor having an armature connected in circuit with said generator armature, means responsive to the speed of 'said motor armature for controlling maintenance of said connection of said electron tubes to said field winding independent of said pilot switch, and electronic means responsive to and controlling the current circulating between said armatures for impresing a supplemental voltage on said control electrodes to limit such current, said last named means including means for predetermining the limit.

i. In combination, a generator, having an ar mature and a field winding, a pair of electron tubes, each having a control electrode, reversing means including a pilot switch for establishing connection of said tubes to said field winding for supplying energizing current to the latter in opposite directions selectively, adjustable means for impressing a voltage on said control electrodes for regulating the current supplied by said tubes, a motor having an armature connected in circuit with said generator armature. means responsive to the speed of said motor armature for controlling maintenance of said connection of said electron tubes to said field winding independent of said pilot switch, and electronic means responsive to and controlling the current circulating between said armatures for impressing a supplemental voltage on said control electrodes to limit such current, said last named means including means for-predetermining a plurality of limits, respectively, for different operating conditions.

tubes, a motor having an armature connected in.

circuit with said generator armature, means responsive to the speed of said motor armature for controlling maintenance of said connection of said electron tubes to said field winding inde-.

pendent of said pilot switch, electronic means for supplying a supplemental voltage varying in accordance with variations of the current circulating between said armature's, means to Vary the response of said electronic means to said circulating current, and electromagnetic means controlled by said reversing means and said speed responsive means, for impressing said supplemental voltage upon said control electrodes to limit such circulating current.

6. In combination, a generator, having an armature and a fiield winding, a pair of electron tubes, each having a control electrode, reversing means including a pilot switch for establishing connection of said tubes to said field winding for supplying energizing current to the latter in opposite directions selectively, adjustable means for impressing a voltage on said control electrodes for regulating the currentsupplied by said tubes, 2. motor having an armature connected in circuit with said generator armature, means responsive to the speed of said motor armature for controlling maintenance of said connection of said electron tubes to said field'winding independent of said pilot switch, electronic means for supplying a plurality of supplemental voltages varying in accordance with variations of the current circulating between said armatures, means to vary the response of said electronic means to said circulating current, and means including electromagnetic means responsive to said reversing means and said speed responsive means for selectively impressing one of said supplemental voltages upon said control electrodes to limit such circulating current to different values for different operating conditions.

JAMES B. REEVES. 

